An AMAZING outpouring of love!
 
When we launch our first ever official Rolling Hills Giving Tree, to support Rolling Hills families in need this holiday season, we were really stepping out with belief in the character and goodness of our school community.  We had no idea the level of generosity and the outpouring of love we would see!!!  Those who gave did so out of a true caring spirit, not knowing who they were helping.  But, the impact is truly real to those that will be celebrating this holiday with the gifts that were shared.  Your time and donations helped five of our Rolling Hills families, including 16 children, during this holiday season. Your help also  ensures these students are able to stay warm through the winter and have a wonderful Christmas.   Everyone played a part in making this happen, so thanks to all who contributed in ways small and large.  We appreciate you!
 
A special shout out to Dillabaugh’s FlooringAmerica  for their generous $1000 donation, in part to support the Giving Tree, and to contributing to the needs of these families, including help with a power bill.   These balance of these funds will be used to support our whole student body by contributing to towards an all-school assembly to help motivate and empower our students in the spring.  These funds were donated to Rolling Hills as part of the company’s annual giving program spreading love and blessings in the community.  Dillabaugh’s staff members are given the opportunity to nominate where these funds are donated.  A big “Thank You!” to RHPCS’ Harmon-Evans family for nominating RHPCS and our Giving Tree for consideration.  You Rock!  
 
Good health and blessings to all in our Rolling Hills Community.  Enjoy your break time!  

The BoxTop collection contest results are in!!
 
1st place - 4th grade 574 Boxtops! Winner of a free dress day this Thursday the 21st!
 
2nd place - Kindergarten 480 Boxtops and honorable mention for having them ALL ON COLLECTION SHEETS
 
​3rd place - 2nd grade 464 Boxtops
 
Grand total of 2,476 Boxtops collected during our Pops for Tops Drive.
 
Thank you for supporting our school by clipping and saving BoxTops all year long.  Awesome job!!
Keep collecting over winter break! More prizes on the way!
 
Dori McGuinn
RHPCS BoxTops Coordinator

​Last Chance for Lost & Found Items
Our abundance of Lost & Found items have been laid out for easy viewing today and Thursday.  Please ask your child to take a careful look for any items that may belong to him/her.  Any unclaimed items will be washed and donated over our Winter Break.
REMINDER:  Please make sure the sweaters, jackets, coats, lunch box, etc. that your child brings to school are labeled with his/her name.  As we prepare unclaimed items for donation, we always look for names. Labeled items are returned to school and delivered back to your child.   

RHPCS Middle School Boys (grades 6-8) are invited to join the RHPCS Boys Basketball team forming now.  
We are pleased to announce that Mr. Michael Choate will be returning as our team coach again this year.  Practices begin Wednesday, January 11, 2017 and will be held Monday-Friday from 2:30 – 4:15 p.m. (subject to change through the season as communicated by Coach Choate)
Interested boys should have parent/guardian complete the attached RHPCS Athletics Participant Form and submit with the $50 team participation fee to Mr. Dea by first practice, Wednesday, January 13.  The team fee can be paid by cash, check written to RHPCS, or by credit card payment online at:  https://rhpcsstore.maxgiving.com/  Need-based scholarships may be available for families who require assistance with the team fee. Scholarship applications are available at the school office.
 
Daily Practices: Practices will be held daily in the RHPCS gym from 2:30 – 4:15 p.m.  Boys should be picked up promptly at the end of practice as there is not school supervision beyond the end of practice.  Boys should come to practice daily ready to work hard and in appropriate exercise clothes and shoes (basketball shoes are strongly encouraged), with a water bottle and healthy snack.
 
Uniforms: RHPCS basketball jerseys are provided by the school for our game days.  For game days, students will need to provide and wear black athletic shorts and a white t-shirt (worn under the jersey).
 
Transportation: Player transportation to and from away games is the responsibility of the parent.  Carpooling with other RHPCS team member parents is typically available, please contact Mr. Dea by email at fdea@rhpcs.org to coordinate.
 
Game Schedule:  The season game schedule is include in the attached Boys Basketball Information sheet.
 
Questions? Contact RHPCS Athletic Director, Frank Dea by email at fdea@rhpcs.org
​

Rolling Hills Public Charter School Secures Local Funding & Solid Financial Future!
 
The RHPCS School Board and Mr. Pratt are pleased to announce great financial news for our school...
 
Rolling Hills has partnered with Mountain America Credit Union to refinance our facility debt, purchase the land our school sits on, and fund planned school improvements.  Rolling Hills borrowed $1,759,000, with $200,000 of that amount earmarked for improvements to the school. Even with the expanded borrowing, the loan obligation payments for the school have been reduced by nearly $30,000 per year.

Read more information in the Idaho Charter School Network press release shown below and celebrate with us!

​REMINDER:  Our RHC Holiday Concert is tomorrow, Thursday, December 7 at Parkview Christian Church located at 201 W. Ustick Road in  Meridian.  We hope you are able to attend as Mr. Lopez and the kids have an incredible program prepared for you!
 
Students are asked to arrive by 6:15 p.m. for a final walk through the program.  While students go through their program preparations, families are invited to enjoy social time with other families in the “Barney’s” coffee bar area inside the church lobby.  Bring a little money with you and help support our 4th grade class field trip to Wagons Ho by purchasing a treat or drink.  
 
The Holiday Concert program will begin at 7 p.m. in the church sanctuary.  Throughout the program students will be in the sanctuary but will sit together with their class in assigned reserved seating area… no need to save a spot for them near you.
 
Performance Attire:  Students in Kindergarten, 1st grade and Middle School are encouraged to dress up or wear holiday outfits for their performance.  Students in 2nd – 5th grade are encouraged to wear their pajamas as part of their “Polar Express” themed performance.  However, no special shopping trip is expected nor encouraged – school uniform is always appropriate.
 
We look forward to seeing you there!  Remember, Mr. Lopez has sweetened the deal for participation and attendance.  All students who participate and/or attend the holiday concert will earn a FREE Dress Day for Friday December 8.
 
Other December Reminders:
 

• Now through Friday, December 8 – 2nd grade service project Toys for Tots toy collection drive.  Help bring Christmas cheer to children in need by donating a new, unwrapped toy.
• Now through Friday, December 15 - Pops-for-Tops BoxTops collection drive.  Students who bring in 10 boxtops (or a completed Pops for Tops sheet) will earn a lollipop!
• Now through Friday, December 15 - Rolling Hills Giving Tree – help us put gifts under the tree for Rolling Hills families in need.  Choose an ornament from our giving tree located at the school office, shop for the item requested, and return the unwrapped gift item to school by December 15.
• Monday, December 11 – Student assembly performance of “The Grinch” and other fun tales by storyteller Christopher Leebrick.  Event sponsored by RHPCS PFA.
• Thursday, December 14 at 5:30 p.m – RHPCS School Board regular December meeting – All are invited and encouraged to attend.
• Friday, December 22 – Sunday, January 7 – Winter Break RHPCS - No School for students & staff.  School resumes on Monday, January 8.   

RHPCS Families,
Please take a few moments to review the information below from Central District Health indicating that there have been documented cases of pertussis (whooping cough) in school age children in our area.  As of now, we have not had any Rolling Hills’ students with symptoms nor diagnosis.  We are sharing the information provided to us in order to be proactive.
 
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
 
All the best,
 
Teri Friend
Rolling Hills Public Charter School
(208) 939-5400 ~ (208) 939-5401 (Fax)
www.rhpcs.org
 
From: IDHan@dhw.idaho.gov [mailto:IDHan@dhw.idaho.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2017 3:30 PM
To: Teri Friend <contact@rhpcs.org>
Subject: PERTUSSIS ALERT FOR SCHOOL HEALTH STAFF HanUserData:9442.1588.1.5695.0
 
​PERTUSSIS ALERT FOR SCHOOL HEALTH STAFF
HEALTH ALERT NETWORK
HEALTH DISTRICT 4
PERTUSSIS ALERT FOR SCHOOL HEALTH STAFF
Central District Health Department Provides Information and Recommendations to School Administrators and Health Staff
December 05, 2017
Since October 1st, 17 pertussis cases have been reported among Ada County residents with almost 60% of cases occurring among school-aged children between the ages 13-18 years. Some cases are being reported among vaccinated individuals and in many instances these people are exhibiting a milder cough without the classical "whoop".
What are the symptoms of Pertussis? Illness usually begins with cold-like symptoms including sneezing, runny nose, a mild, occasional cough and low-grade fever. Then the cough becomes more severe. Often a person has attacks or spasms of coughing. The coughing may cause a person to vomit, cough up mucous, or lose his/her breath. Coughing may continue for weeks or months. Uncommonly a child may make a crowing sound (whoop) when she/he draws a breath after severely coughing. Teens and adults usually have milder disease.
How soon after exposure do symptoms occur? From 7-21 days, usually 7-10 days.
Can a person get Pertussis even if they have been immunized? Yes. Pertussis vaccines are good but not perfect. The DTaP and Tdap vaccines initially provide high levels of protection but immunity decreases over time. This decreasing immunity means that a person can be at risk of infection.
How long is someone contagious? If untreated, a person is contagious from the time cold-like symptoms or cough begins until three weeks after the attacks of coughing started. If treated with an effective antibiotic (e.g. Azithromycin), a person is no longer contagious after taking the antibiotic for 5 days.
How long should a person with Pertussis stay isolated at home? A person with Pertussis should not be in school while they are contagious. This means that infected persons who are treated may return to day care, work, or school after completing five days of antibiotic. If a person does not receive treatment, they should stay home for three weeks after the attacks of coughing started.
Does someone who has been exposed to Pertussis but has no symptoms need to stay isolated at home? No, but if cold-like symptoms or a cough develop they should be promptly examined and tested by a physician.
What’s the difference between the nasopharyngeal swab and blood test for Pertussis? The nasopharyngeal swab testing looks directly for the Pertussis bacteria. If a person has Pertussis, this test can detect the bacteria from the time of cough onset until 3-4 weeks afterward (the contagious period). Blood testing or serology looks at the body’s immune response to being exposed to the bacteria and will typically be positive 2-8 weeks after cough onset. However, the blood test is not as reliable as the swab and a positive blood test alone does not mean the patient will be counted as a case with the health department.
What can be done to prevent Pertussis? Vaccination is the most effective prevention. Children should receive 5 doses of DTaP by age 6 and a booster of Tdap should be given to preteens at 11-12 years of age.
If there has been a case of Pertussis in a classroom, should a letter be sent to parents? Letters can be a helpful way to alert parents to potential exposure, however they are most effective in elementary settings and when there are low numbers of cases in the community. When higher numbers of cases are being seen in the community, such as now, general announcements about Pertussis on school websites or in newsletters may be a more effective way to get information to parents.
For additional information contact the Office of Communicable Disease Control at 208-327-8625. For immunization questions contact the CDHD Shot Line at 208-321-2229.